Worried by the challenge of insecurity in the country, the Northern Governors Forum has called on the Federal Government to urgently review security situation in the North.
The meeting conducted via teleconferencing was presided over by the Chairman of the forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong.
The Governors expressed concern over the level of insecurity in the region and agreed to set up a Standing Committee on security in the North to foster synergy among all security agencies in the region.
The Committee will be headed by Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and has Governors of Zamfara and Gombe as members.
The forum also set up another Committee headed by Governor Simon Lalong on Consultation with Traditional, Religious and Community leaders in the North with a view to ensuring that there is wider involvement in tackling insecurity in the region.
The Committee has Governors of Adamawa, Niger, and Sokoto as members.
The Forum of Northern Governors also reached a decision to engage actively with local vigilantes, hunters, and community watch groups in the security architecture of the region in order to foster intelligence gathering, rapid response and sustained surveillance.
The Northern Governors also called on the Federal Government to closely look into the Ecowas Protocol on free movement of persons as it relates to the cross-border movement of herders from other countries into Nigeria, particularly the North.
While commending the Nigerian security forces for their efforts in tackling insecurity in the region so far, they called for increased synergy which will further enhance their operations and assist in putting an end to the activities of bandits, insurgents, kidnappers and other criminals.
They also agreed to adopt dialogue where necessary while pursuing military measures in dealing with the various security challenges in the region.
While sympathizing with victims of the various attacks and other forms of criminality in the region, the Northern Governors also appealed for calm by groups and those affected as both the Forum, individual State Governments and the Federal Government are working together to ensure that this ugly situation is brought under control immediately, as well as addressing the humanitarian needs of the victims.
The Governors also want the Federal Government to accelerate the Livestock Transformation Plan which will assist in creating jobs among farmers and herders in the region and the country at large.
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They commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts to deal with the security situation in the country and the region.
Editor:(Omor Bazuaye)
